I understand how this is working. You get the U.S. to invade or start a war against your country. He has already sanctioned you, perhaps for years (viz. Russia, Iran, and Venezuela), attempting to stop your trade, particularly oil or other natural resources. You want the sanctions lifted, even though you are using “ghost” fleets and other means to evade them.
The solution: Make sure Trump believes, or can claim, that the U.S. is “winning” the war against you, or has successfully deposed and arrested your leader, or just is plain in love with him (Putin). You then watch as the price of oil rises and the U.S. financial markets drop.
You listen to Trump’s complete fabrications concerning the situation and watch as he attempts to tell a story that is so full of holes it makes a Swiss cheese envious. As his approval ratings drop, and even some craven Republicans legislators start to squirm over his actions, you know you got him.
As the oil price rises and Americans continue to question his imperialist designs and the incompetence of any planning for the future, you just sit and wait as the markets and national opinion and regular old economics work to reveal the reality of Trump’s incompetence and disregard for American values and the country’s future wellbeing.
The result: Trump lifts sanctions against his supposed enemies to lower gas prices at the pump—the one thing you wanted—even as he wages or threatens wars over Ukraine, Iranian uranium enrichment, and alleged Venezuelan drug trafficking.
You won! Sanctions are lifted on Russian oil at sea and on Iranian oil at sea (even in Iranian ships), and stockpiled Venezuelan oil is sold (months ago) into the world market. Unfortunately the Venezuelan stockpiled oil was sold at $20 to $50 per barrel, but the purchase was made before anyone knew the price would be over $100 per barrel as our brilliant president never mentioned then that he would swiftly start a war with Iran.
So sanctions are lifted on oil—and perhaps soon on other things—as Trump’s son-in-law continues to solicit business deals in the Middle East while simultaneously serving as Trump’s de facto ambassador for peace talks with Russia and in the region.
One good bet by you: If it enriches Trump, his family, and his corrupt friends, you have a good shot at getting what you want, although the price in destruction and lives is reprehensible. But then again, you are a dictatorship and only care about your economic enrichment, just like the American president. Birds of a feather?
Sorry for the hyperbole, but facts are facts. Why lift sanctions when you are aiding your enemy and allowing him to continue down the path he has chosen, a path that caused you to start a war or continue one? Why kill American servicemen and -women and thousands of others when negotiations are available—hopefully with real ambassadors and professionals and not with failed real estate developers or Trump’s son-in-law.
The world has turned upside down.
